I had finals this past week for my first semester in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Vanderbilt University. It was a tough semester with the job change, but a very productive semester. I cannot tell you how happy I am at Genesee Community Health Center. It is exactly where I want to be in our community. They are doing a wonderful job of caring for the most disadvantaged members of our Flint, MI community.
The Fellowship has given me the option to find a practice setting I believe in with my whole heart. My first day at Genesee Community Health Center (GCHC) felt like coming home. It is a completely patient-centered practice that services those who are most vulnerable–people otherwise forgotten and overlooked–by establishing a true patient-centered medical home. Many of the patients are homeless, mentally ill, or have addiction issues. Almost all have multiple chronic conditions and do not have access to basic services. Primary care is provided, as well as behavioral health services, addiction services, and community outreach. I am proud to be working with a group of the most dedicated and compassionate people I have ever known. The employees at GCHC are constantly filling needs in the community, from collecting clothing just in case someone comes in with a need (which happens daily) to distributing Narcan kits with training to prevent opiate overdoses. Our recovery and health coaches are members of our community that have experienced some of these same issues earlier in their lives and now provide a support system for those in need.
I wanted to do a million things after my graduation from Georgetown University and help a million people. This Fellowship gave me the freedom and opportunity to find a place supportive of my passion. The management and administrative team has been so supportive of helping me find how my passion fits with the needs in our community. I am working on navigating through the grant system, in the hopes to further develop a program I have started working on. I can’t think of a better place to ensure success.
One of my families from my previous job followed me to GCHC. She is a mother with five small children, all under age 12, living in a shelter. She is trying her hardest to get ahead in life and provide for her children. Despite so many hardships they remain positive and upbeat. They have been unable to find housing for the last five months due to a shortage in our community. They share one room at the shelter, without a refrigerator or any kitchen appliances, and share a community bathroom. Within the past few weeks a pipe burst in their room and destroyed what little they had, just before Christmas. My family has been collecting funds to provide a Christmas for this family. My children volunteered to donate two Christmas presents each that they would have received and buy for these children. The work of the Foundation is alive and well in Flint, MI and is being passed on to others!
The emotional experience of being named the first awardee of the ELB Fellowship award has been irreplaceable. I generally persevere through hard times, and I’m certainly not a quitter. But my first few months finding my way, along with managing my family and continued education, were overwhelming. In my acceptance speech I stated that I hoped I would hear ‘don’t quit, you can do it’ in hard times and be reminded I wasn’t alone. The honor and responsibility of a legacy built on advocacy and compassion helped me through my most difficult times. I will be forever grateful and I hope I have honored Erin’s memory with my work so far.
– ALEISHA ROSSO, 2016 ELB FOUNDaTIoN FELLOW
The Genesee Community Health Center mobile medical unit